MN DNR Conservation Officer
District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2025-01-06
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked area snowmobilers and anglers on Lake of the Woods. Fishing tapered off with the cold weather, but earlier on anglers were having good luck. Violations for the week included angling without a license and possessing an overlimit of walleyes/sauger.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week working on a background investigation and checking area anglers. Violations encountered were no license in possession, multiple instances of angling with extra lines, litter, unmarked shelter, possession of fillets on the ice, and illegal-length walleyes. Anglers reported increased success later in the week near Pine Island.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week patrolling Lake of the Woods. Enforcement action was taken for possessing an overlimit of walleyes, possessing fillets on the ice, failure to retain carcasses, no license in possession, and possession of alcohol by a minor.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports mixed angling success on Lake of the Woods. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license in possession, overlimit of walleyes, and possession of fillets on Lake of the Woods. Prachar received numerous complaints of ATVs and other vehicles on the state grant-in-aid snowmobile trail. Be sure to know where you can operate your recreational vehicles legally before your ride.
CO Paul Kennedy (Baudette East) worked angling activity on area lakes and investigated a report of a trespass. Enforcement action for the week included no license in possession, no shelter tag, and angling with an extra line.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) worked a detail on Lake of the Woods with CO Huener. He also monitored area angling activity in the Thief River Falls area. Enforcement action for the week included angling without a license, angling with an extra line, illegal-length northern pike, unregistered ATV, and possessing dressed fillets on a special regulations water.
CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) spent time working angling activity. A detail was worked on Upper Red Lake with area officers. A talk was given to the Newfolden Lions Club about updated laws and the previous deer season.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week responding to nuisance-animal calls throughout the area. Time was spent on Lake of the Woods working angling enforcement. Enforcement action was taken for no license in possession and various alcohol-related violations.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) worked Upper Red Lake throughout the week. The bite has slowed significantly with the cold weather moving into the area. He took in incidentally trapped animals and donated them to the Minnesota Trappers Association Fur Project.
CO Brianna Shaw (Blackduck South) spent the week patrolling for sport fishing and recreation vehicle activity. Additional time was spent on a detail on Upper Red Lake. Enforcement action was taken for illegal possession of walleyes and fishing with extra lines.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2025-01-06
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports attending a snowmobile safety class in Crookston this past week. Anglers and ATV operators were contacted on area lakes. Snowmobile activity is minimal due to the lack of snow in the area.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Bemidji #1) spent time patrolling local lakes for angling activity. Anglers are reporting up to 14 inches of ice on lakes. Portable shelters must be licensed if left unattended. Enforcement action was taken for no license in possession, no shelter license, and no identification on a shelter.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) primarily has been focusing on ice fishing activity. Improved ice conditions have increased traffic and pressure on area lakes, but snow cover remains scarce. With a slow bite and the turn of the calendar, violations rates have increased. One lake produced a 50% violation rate, including fishing within the protected slot, extra lines, unattended lines, no angling license, no shelter license or ID, and ice litter. Additional time was spent on ATV and off-road vehicle enforcement.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week checking ice anglers. Fishing has been good in the area and many anglers are getting out. Ice seems to have recovered after the warm weather. Swedberg also assisted CO Landmark with a potential deer-taken-out-of-season case, but it was determined the deer was legally taken.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) primarily worked fishing activities, as lack of snow in the area and cold weather limited recreational vehicle traffic. Ice conditions are decent, but a slow bite was reported on most lakes. Shelter-related violations were the most frequent during the week.
CO William Landmark (Moorhead) spent the past week checking ice anglers, trapping activity, and archery deer hunters. Ice anglers are finding improved ice conditions and houses are starting to be placed out on area lakes. Calls from the public were all related to reports of injured or deceased animals. Enforcement action was taken for illegal trap sets and illegal-length crappies on a special regulations lake.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling activity, with anglers reporting a slow bite. ATV and snowmobile checks were performed. Area wildlife management areas and waterfowl production areas were monitored for activity.
CO Matthew Boyle (Pelican Rapids) spent time checking ice anglers. The panfish have still been biting well, despite the cold weather. Boyle also took a report of a dead swan. After further investigation, it was deemed the cause of death was flying into a power line.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked ice anglers and ATV and snowmobile registrations. He also responded to various calls about wildlife. Trapping activity was patrolled, and trap setups were investigated. Public lands were patrolled for activity and tree stands that were left up from previous hunting seasons. A reminder that portable ice shelters also need to be licensed if left out on the ice unoccupied.
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CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #2) spent the week checking anglers on area lakes and completing annual online training. Many anglers reported a slower bite throughout the week with the colder weather. Enforcement action was taken for fishing without a license and a fish house on the ice without a license.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2025-01-06
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the week focused on angling enforcement. She also had help from area COs over the weekend to put on two snowmobile safety classes.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) spent time on trapping enforcement, seizing incidentally caught fisher. Ice fishing activity was abundant, but the fish did not seem to cooperate. Fish house owners are reminded that identification and a shelter tag are required on all shelters that are not portable.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports checking anglers throughout the week. Brown also assisted CO Wood with a snowmobile class in Fergus Falls. Enforcement action this week included no shelter tag on a permanent fish house, northern pike within the protected slot, and no license in personal possession.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, fish houses, and ATV riders. Injured -animal complaints were received and handled. Fish house identification and litter on the ice were the two most common violations encountered through the week.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) continues to check anglers and ATV operators out on the ice. Cold weather is not keeping the anglers away, and many have lots of fish to show for it. Several ice shelter license violations were encountered.
CO Bobby Stringer (Wheaton) reports an increase in ATVs and vehicles going through the ice at accesses. Remember, anglers should ?drive to arrive? and not let other vehicles on the ice be the litmus test for their own safety. Stringer helped instruct multiple youth snowmobile safety classes and assisted another agency with a felony arrest. Enforcement action for the week included local charges for continuing to allow dogs to chase deer, ATV violations, litter on the ice, no angling license in possession, extra lines, and driving after revocation.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working fishing and ATV activity. Limited numbers of fish were seen, and education was given to a group of parents at a youth fishing tournament for youth passengers on ATVs without helmets. Whether on the ice or on the road, passengers under 18 need to be wearing helmets. Background work was also done on a potential hire.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking anglers, trappers, and ATV operators. Additional time was spent investigating complaints of extra lines and overlimits.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2025-01-06
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked ice fishing, closed out ongoing cases, and continued work on a background investigation.
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the area for ice fishing and recreational vehicle activity. Baum found varying success among ice anglers in the area. Ice thickness in the area seems to be increasing but he reminds people to be sure to check before venturing out to ensure safety. Baum wants to remind anglers to keep a clean area while fishing and to review new regulations in the DNR fishing regulations handbook.
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) continued field training with COC Tshungtsim Thao. The officers spent time handling miscellaneous calls in the Walker station. They patrolled Leech Lake and Lake Winnibigoshish. Enforcement action was taken for multiple violations, including keeping fish within the protected slot, extra lines, ice shelter violations, litter, and ATV registrations.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) primarily checked anglers and worked on items related to the new licensing system. Mathy also taught at a snowmobile safety class. Enforcement action was taken for angling violations.
CO Corey Sura continued to monitor trapping activity in the area. Several self-reported incidental catches were called in and collected. Far less angling activity was seen through the week into the weekend with the recent cold snap.
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports checking ice anglers, trapping activity, and attending K9 training. He also reports assisting with a snowmobile safety class in Staples.
ATV rec officer vacant.
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